President Donald Trump declared the interim peace memorandum with Iran "over" on Wednesday, hours before the United States launched a new, larger wave of military strikes against Iranian facilities. The attacks, primarily targeting the country's southern coast, aimed to safeguard commercial shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command Confirms Escalation
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that forces were "conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz." CENTCOM emphasized that the United States holds Iran accountable for recent "unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews" in the international waterway. A US official, speaking to Reuters, indicated that Wednesday's operation surpassed the scale of strikes carried out on Tuesday.
Trump's Warnings and Verdict on the Deal
The renewed military action followed clear warnings from President Trump. Speaking from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, he told reporters, "I'll give a little warning: We're going to hit them hard tonight," prior to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. After departing the summit, Trump posted videos on Truth Social, which he claimed depicted explosions in Iran, alongside a direct message to Tehran: "This is in retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!"
Regarding the status of the June 17 interim agreement, Trump was unequivocal. When asked if the memorandum remained in force, he stated, "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them." He further added, "If we make a deal with Iran, I'm not sure that will stick. I found them to be very dishonorable people." Despite the strong rhetoric, Trump also expressed that he did not anticipate a return to full-scale war.
Targets Across Iran's Southern Coast
Iran's state news agency reported multiple explosions across several locations along the country's southern coastline, extending from the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman. Among the primary targets was Bandar Abbas, Iran's largest port and a key operational base for both the Iranian Navy and the Revolutionary Guards, where approximately eight explosions were heard as air defense systems activated.
Further east, Chabahar and Konarak experienced around ten explosions each. Iranian media reported widespread power outages and significant damage to maritime traffic control towers in both cities, specifically mentioning Shahid Beheshti Port and Kalantari Port in Chabahar. Fragments from strikes in Chabahar reportedly hit a local hospital. Explosions were also reported in Iranshahr, where IRNA, Iran's state news agency, confirmed the death of a firefighter following an attack on Iranshahr Airport. Other affected areas included Sirik (three explosions), Abu Musa Island (two US projectiles), Bushehr (two projectiles), and multiple blasts in Jask. Notably, a railway bridge near Aqqala in northern Iran was also struck, marking the first reported attack in that region since the original ceasefire.
Regional Alert and Iranian Response
The escalation immediately triggered regional alerts. Bahrain's Interior Ministry activated sirens across various parts of the country, urging citizens and residents to seek safety. Kuwait's Defence Ministry confirmed its air defense systems were actively confronting incoming rocket and drone attacks, indicating a broader regional impact of the US actions.
Tehran's reaction was swift and defiant. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament's Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, posted on X, "Martyr Khamenei taught us not to fear America and showed that 'falsehood will perish.' Await the hard slap from the Iranians." Nournews, an outlet associated with Iran's top security body, cited a military source who stated Tehran was preparing a "massive attack" on US military bases in the region. Iran also claimed it had already struck US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for earlier American strikes on its infrastructure. Prior to this latest round of US actions, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei had accused Washington of violating the June 17 memorandum, specifically a clause that, according to Tehran, "emphasises the Islamic Republic of Iran's responsibility in determining arrangements for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz."
Markets React to Heightened Tensions
The renewed hostilities had an immediate impact on global energy markets. Brent crude futures rose by more than $1 a barrel in post-settlement trading on Wednesday, reaching $79.28 per barrel. While this represented a significant jump, prices remained well below the late-April peak of over $120 per barrel, when the initial threat of a Hormuz closure first sent global energy markets into turmoil.